Prepubertal, pubertal, and adult measurements of human larynges were used to describe growth of the larynx from prepuberty to adulthood. Linear and weight measurements made of 10 Caucasian male and 10 Caucasian female prepubertal and pubertal cadaveric larynges were compared to adult measurement data obtained from another study on 20 male and 20 female larynges of adults, aged 37-70. In both studies measurements and experimental protocols were similar, allowing direct comparisons to be made between samples. Results highlight specific quantitative characteristics and trends in circumpubertal growth of the laryngeal cartilages and the vocal folds for each sex and with respect to sex differences. The results are discussed with respect to the literature on postnatal laryngeal development and to published research on adolescent voice change.

Measurements were made from ten Caucasian male and ten Caucasian female cadaveric larynges ranging in age from 9 to 18 years. The sample was divided into prepubertal and pubertal groups of each sex, respectively. Each specimen was dissected and measured according to a specified protocol so that data on linear and angular dimensions of the laryngeal cartilages and the weight of each cartilage were obtained. Results from this study highlighted differences in the developmental morphology of the circumpubertal larynx. With few exceptions, pubertal laryngeal measurements were significantly larger than prepubertal counterparts in both sexes. No clear sexual dimorphism was found between male and female prepubertal larynges though measurements of the prepubertal female larynx were closer to adult counterparts in size and weight than were those in the male. Thus the female larynx requires less growth per unit time to reach maturity than the male. By puberty, clear sexual dimorphism was evident in the larynx. Linear and weight measurements of the pubertal male larynx were significantly larger than in the female. Though the angle of the thyroid laminae was not significantly different in pubertal male and female cartilages, the thyroid eminence was clearly more prominent in the male. The vocal folds in both sexes reached essentially their adult length by puberty; however, the absolute length of the male vocal folds had increased by over two times that of the female.Few quantitative studies have been reported on the morphology of the human circumpubertal larynx. Gedgowd (1900) presented quantitative data on sex differences in laryngeal structure for the angle of the thyroid laminae and the length of the vocal folds. All other data on the larynx were not distinguished on the basis of sex or development. The mean data for the reported measures presumably represented both sexes. No indices of variability or sample size were available and age levels studied were overlapping. Klock ('68) had an insufficient number of larynges in the circumpubertal age range to report quantitatively on specific morphologic features of the larynx based on sex or development. As a consequence, he discussed overall patterns of postnatal laryngeal development.While the contributions of these authors furthered understanding of postnatal laryngeal growth, their studies lacked specificity of detail concerning the developmental anatomy of the larynx during the circumpubertal period. The purpose of the present study was to investigate these differences within each sex and in terms of sex differences. MATERIALS AND METHODSTwenty specimens between the ages of 9 and 19 years were selected from a group of 27 circumpubertal larynges preserved in 10% buffered formalin. Five male and five female prepubertal and five male and five female pubertal larynges were selected for study. The mean ages were 10.7,12,15.8 and 16 years, respectively. All specimens were obtained from individuals who had no histories of long term endotracheal intubation and were free fro...

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A study of the microstructure of the human laryngeal ventricle and ventricular band was carried out on 20 human larynges in an attempt to up-date and elucidate the function of these structures. Celloidin and paraffin whole organ coronal serial sections were studied to clarify the epithelial, glandular as well as muscular structures of the ventricle and ventricular band. The present study showed that the superior thyro-arytenoid muscle was bilaterally present in 80% of cases. On the other hand, the ventricularis muscle was bilaterally present in 95% of cases. These ventricular muscular elements have been reported differently in the literature. The functional significance of these variations are discussed. The opening of the saccule into the ventricle is guarded anteriorly by the ventriculo-saccular fold. This fold was present in 19 out of 20 larynges. Neither the percentage of its presence, nor its orientation to the saccular opening has been reported in the literature. The function of this structure is discussed in the light of the present data.

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The field of tissue engineering/regenerative medicine combines the quantitative principles of engineering with the principles of the life sciences toward the goal of reconstituting structurally and functionally normal tissues and organs. There has been relatively little application of tissue engineering efforts toward the organs of speech, voice, and hearing. The present manuscript describes a study that was conducted in which a biologic scaffold derived from porcine (pig) extracellular matrix (ECM) was used to repair the defect following a hemilaryngectomy procedure in dogs. The ECM-augmented repair was compared with a control standard strap muscle (STM) procedure. The animals were sacrificed after 24 weeks at which time anatomic and histologic analyses were conducted. The ECM repair resulted in a macroscopic and microscopic reconstruction of laryngeal tissue that was superior to that observed with the STM procedure. The importance of regenerated tissue having the same structural and functional characteristics of native tissue is emphasized. A discussion of the mechanisms of ECM remodeling is presented along with the implications of such remodeling in the repair of laryngeal structures.

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